Monitoring toddlers, technology, and education

Modern technology has made it possible to use a wide range of technologies to educate children at all ages in schools. Many parents have found that electronic tools for children are easy to use. Many people are now embracing the idea of digital media as a way to teach toddlers (children between 0-5 years old). Young children can be very impressionable so parents need to monitor them and help them navigate the digital media. People should be cautious when using this method as it can cause children to not get enough sleep or obesity due to a decrease in physical activity and adversely affect their development.

Children's digital media, particularly those directed at them, is highly stimulating. This is because it helps to attract and keep their attention. Children may find it difficult to fall asleep after engaging in digital media activities or watching TV. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children who are exposed to more media or have a television, computer or mobile device in their bedroom sleep less and fall asleep later at nights. This is especially concerning as toddlers need a lot of sleep to grow. The relevant hormone is not created when the child is asleep. Insufficient sleep can cause developmental problems in toddlers, which could negate any benefits of digital media education. Although it is possible to prevent the problem by not allowing your child to use digital media at night, this requires that parents exercise caution.

Blue light is another aspect of digital media use that can have a negative impact on sleep and affect children and adults. It reduces endogenous melanin levels and makes it more difficult to fall asleep (American Academy of Pediatrics). This is true regardless of whether the content has been one-sided or interactive. The effect is only possible when there is a screen. Although many electronic devices can reduce blue light emissions by using night modes, they are rarely able to completely eliminate them. Even though these tools are available, they do not guarantee that children can use them in the evening. Parents should monitor their child's exposure carefully. Children should avoid digital tools at night due to possible sleep problems. Parents will usually have the time and resources to supervise their child's learning.

Digital media interactions require that the user remains in one place, often sitting in front of the screen. The prolonged exposure to digital media can result in insufficient exercise for children, eventually leading to an increase in weight. Children may also be exposed to food advertising while they eat, and eat more without considering safety. (American Academy of Pediatrics). This is why some parents allow their children to watch digital media while they eat. Children are less likely than to complain or refuse to eat when distracted by the screen. They create a risk that their toddlers will become obese later in life by allowing them to watch digital media during meals. It seems that the best solutions are to limit how much digital media the child consumes per day, or to pay more attention to their weight and provide appropriate interventions if it starts to show abnormalities.

It can be difficult to tell if a child is overweight before it becomes dangerous. Because it fails to take into account all aspects of weight, BMI is often regarded as an inaccurate measurement. There is no comparable metric. Children are growing rapidly and may experience temporary anomalies that aren't related to obesity. It is important to be aware of the possible causes of weight gain such as digital media and to limit your child's exposure. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children aged 2-5 years should be limited to one hour of screen time per day. Younger toddlers should only consume media under guidance and supervision. Parents should also ensure that their children get enough exercise to prevent excess weight gain and develop motor skills.

Digital media education is less interactive than traditional education. It can be either one-sided, or it cannot address every situation. It has a lot of benefits, however, because there is so much information online that no library can match (Tahnk 4). The child should be careful about what information they have access to, as they might learn incorrect lessons. Children younger than two years old may have trouble understanding what is happening on the screen. However, those approaching the second year of their life can benefit from parental guidance (American Academy of Pediatrics). Parents should not leave their child alone and expect them to use their devices to distract from distress. Instead, they should teach the toddler about the world and use digital media as an aid tool.

Children may have language and self-regulation issues as a result, in addition to learning difficulties. Patients will often use mobile media to distract their child from the problem or teach them how to express it more socially acceptable (Radesky and Schumacher, 3). The child may not learn the self-regulation skills that are so common in adults and older children, which could lead to problems in the future. Many digital tools don't require that the child speak. Instead, they only ask them to listen and push buttons occasionally. This can lead to a decrease in language learning. Parents should be involved in their child's education. This is especially true for younger children under 2.

Although there are many benefits to electronic tools for educating small children they can often be countered by the problems they create. Small children find digital media stimulating and blue light can disrupt sleep which is crucial for their growth. Obesity is caused by the tendency of parents to show their children videos while they eat and the low amount of physical activity that comes with sitting in front a screen. Children who spend too much time on their electronic devices may also have difficulties with language development. Parents who use digital media to distract their children may cause them to lose self-regulation skills. It is important to be educated about the dangers and proper use of electronic devices in education of children.